Rotary-cylinder engine.



C. E? FREDERICKSON.

. ROTARY CYLINDER ENGINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN.31, 1913. 1,088,017, Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/TNESSES: i //V mvroe em hm zifrederc wom G. E. FRBDERIGKSON. ROTARY CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1913. 1,088,017, Patented Feb. 24, 191i 4 SHEETS-(BET 2.

IN l/E N TOR 6 722. fred'ericiwow I ATTORNY6 G. E. FREDERIGKSON.

ROTARY CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum) JAN.31, 191s.

'1,08 8 ,01 7. Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. E. PREDERIGKSON. ROTARY CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION rum) 11111.31, 191s.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 7 f0 M1 layZvnEf Frederv'okmm UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

CLAYTON E. FREDERICKSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GRACE C. STENGER, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY-CYLINDER ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Application filed January 31-, 1918. Serial No. 745,430.

tionary while the cylinders revolve around the same. I i I Generically the invention provides a motor of the type stated in which the crank case forms the fuel supply reservoir from the carbureter and from which reservoir the fuel is passed into the compression space of the cylinder or cylinders, through the intervention of a controlling valve of special design, that forms an oscillatable dam or shutoff between the lower end ofthe respective cylinder and the crank case. It is in this feature of the apparatus that one of the essentials of my present invention resides.

Another important feature of my invention lies in the provision of an especially constructed mufiler so designed with relation to the engine proper as to have its weight balanced and so attached to the cylinders as to rotate with thesame.

Again the invention has for its object to simplify the arrangement of parts, reduce the cost of construction, and increase, the efiiciency of operation of the engine, and to provide an engine that is especially adapted for use in aerial work.

In its more detail nature, the invention also resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal. section on the line -33 of Fig. 1. Fig.

4 is a vertical cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective "iew of one of the valve guides for the oscillating valve or'cutoif, partly in se'ction. Fig, 6' is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the oscillating valves.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the removable guide segment. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the ignition circuits. Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic views of one cylinder showing the relative motion between the cylinders and crank shaft and illustrating the-cycle of operation of the engine.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in all the figures, 1 and 2 are the stationary frame supports, the support 1 having a collar 3 that is keyed or otherwise secured to the hollow crank shaft 4 so as to' hold the same stationary.

5 designates the crank pin to which the connecting rods 53 are connected.

The crank shaft 4: is shouldered at 6 to receive one element 7 of a ball bearing, the other element 8 of which is set into a recess or socket in one of the side or cap plates 9 of the crank case 11. The bearing elements 7 and 8 have ball races to receive the 'anti friction balls 10. The crank pin 5 has a reduced threaded end 12 to which the crank member 13 is secured by the jam nut 14, or

otherwise, and the crank member 13 has a projection 15 shouldered to receive one element 16 of a bearing member whose other element 18 is fitted into a recess 19, of the crank case cap plate 20, the bearing elements 16 and 18 having the anti-friction balls 17 located between them.

The cap plate 20 has a central enlarge ment that is bored at 21 to receive the projecting end of the crank member 15 and also to receive the lug 22 that is carried by the flange 23 of the short stub shaft 25 that carries the propeller. The flange 23 is bolted at 24 to the cover 20, and the shaft 25 is threaded to receive the propeller hub 26 which is secured in place by jam nuts 27 and 28, and which carries the propeller blades ceive the oscillating valve guides 37, the latter being securely bolted in place as best indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. The guides 37 have segmental arc portions 39 separated by a passage 38 through which the body of the valve 42 projects, and the guides 39 cotiperate with guides 40 that are secured by bolts 41 to form a guideway for the segmental arc flanges 43 of the valve The valve 42 is of the peaked'typc and has a portion 44 cut away or otherwise formed to act as the valve proper to open and close communication between the interior of the crank case '11 and the interior of the compression space of the cylinders 57. The valve 42 is bored at 45 and opened at 46 to receive the roller bearing member 47 through which, and through the opening 46, the piston connecting rod 53 passes. The roller 47 floats in the bore 45 to have a slight amount of lateral play, and it has spindles 48 011 which caps 52, are mounted, and held in tight frictional contact with the sides of "the valve 42 by springs 49 on the spindles 48. The springs 49 are held in place by washers 50 and pins 51, and also serve to keep the roller 47 centered in the bore 45.

The connecting rods 53 are secured to the crank bearings 55 by threading the same into the bearings as at 56 and providing jam nuts 54 to retain the connection.

Each cylinder 57 is divided into a workin g chamber and a compression space, by the respective piston 58. The connecting rod 53 'is connected to the piston 58 by the usual pin connection 59, and the cylinder 57 is provided with ports 6061 that are controlled by the piston 58 and are connected by by-passes 62 to convey the compressed new charge from the compression space in back of the piston into the working chamber when the piston ports 63 register with the port 60, and when the port 61 is uncovered by the piston 58, the piston head is provided with the usual baffles 64 to shoot-the new charge toward the cylinder head 67 and blow out the old charge through the exhaust ports 59 when they are uncovered by the piston.

66 designates the cooling device for the usual purpose, and 68 designates the spark plug of the ignition system.

The exhaust ports 69 communicate through a connecting casting 70 having ducts 71 with the muffler 72 which is, as before statcd, of a special construction adapted particularly for use in connection with this engine. The muffler 72 is constructed of a ring-like hollow sheet metal body sepa rated into a series of sections, depending upon the number of cylinders, by partitions 73 adjacent to the exhaust ports 69 of the engine, and the muffler is'provided with a corresponding set of discharge openings 7 5, the space traversed by the gases from the partition 73 to the outlet 75 being formed into a zigzag passage by projecting partial partitions 74 arranged in zigzag form as best indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

76 designates the magneto which may be mounted on the frame 1 and driven from the rotating crank case 11 through the medium of gear connections, one form of which is bestillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be observed that the shaft 77 of the magneto carries a gear 78 which meshes with gear 79, secured at 80 to the cap plate 9, to turn with it.

81 is the commutator insulation which is mounted on the cap plate 9 to turn with it and has the desired number of contacts 82 to be engaged by the contact 83 that is connected through a wirc'85 with the mag neto. The contacts 82 are connected with the respective spark plugs 68 by wires 84.

86 is the carbureter which may be of any desired construction and connected in any suitable way, as for example at 87 tolthe'hollow shaft 4, so that the mixture from the carbureter may pass into the crank case 11.

The operation of the invention will be clear by following the same in connection with one cylinder, since the operation in all cylinders is identical, differing only in the relative time of the commencement of the cycle of operation.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, I have indicated one cycle of operation. If the parts are positioned as indicated in Fig. 9 and assuming that the case 11 is filled with working agent under atmospheric pressure, and the compression space of the cylinder 57 having been filled with a compressed new charge, such charge will be seen to be passing into the working chamber of the cylinder through the ports 6360, by-pass 62 and ports 61. At the same time the old charge will be passing out through the exhaust ports 69. Gemmunication between the carbureter of the crank case 11 and the compression space of the cylinder 57 will be cut ofi by the oscillating valve 42 since the valve 44 will not be open. Now as the cylinder turns with relation to the crank in the direction of the arrow, to move toward the position shown in Fig. 10, the valve 42 will be rocked to open the port 44-and permit a charge to be drawn into the compression space of the cylinder 57 during the suction stroke of the piston 58, the passage of the charge into the cylinder being assisted by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the crank case and cylinders. As the piston 58 reaches the limit of its compression stroke, it moves through the position shown in Figs. 11 and 152, to a position such as illustrated in the upper cylinder of Fig. 2, with the valve 42 in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. From this time until the piston again reaches the position shown in Fig. 9, communication between the crank easel]. and

t ,e comi'a'ression space of the cylinder will is Preferably located and approximately Ofi the circle of rotation of the crank pin 5, as will be most apparent by an inspection of Figs. 1 and 9. This gives a quick short action to the valve so as to enable it to oper ate with the greatest eiiiciency and minimum wear.

By virtue of the fact that the cylinders rotate, the contact between the under surof the guides 39 and the upper surfaces of the flange Q3 of the valves 42 will be increased as ti peed of the engine rises due to the action centrifugal force which continuously tends to hold the flanges L3 in tight contact w th. the guides 39 thereby reducing the li lity of leakage between the compression space of the cylinder id the interior of the crank case ll,

Any suitable ntion systeiz be employed in connection with the engine, and any suitable lubricating system, as this application i make no claim, per se, to any special type of ignition system or lubricating systei 7.

From foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

It might be mentioned-in conclusion that when the lubricant is introduced via the crank case, in order to prevent accumulation of the lubricant it may be injected into the working chamber by means of a pipe connection 88 and back check valve 89.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. .In an engine of the type stated, a crank case, a cylinder-moiuited thereon to communicate with the interior of the crank case, said cylinder having a piston controlled exhaust port, a piston operating in the cy inder to divide the same into a working chamber and 001- *ession space, a crank shaft, a connecti rod between the crank shaft and the piston, means for admitting working agent into the crank case, and means for passing the charge from the compression space into the working chamber of the cylinder; and an oscillatable cut-oil and valve member cooperative with the connecting rod to close off communication between the compression space and the interior of the crank case during the working stroke ofthe piston said out ofi? and valve member comprising a peaked body having a segmental arc flange provided with a port and a valve seat member against which said flange bears, said valve seat member being located between the flange and the working cylinder, and the peak of said peaked member extending inwardly from the crank case toward the head of the cylinder whereby, When said crank case and cylinder are rotated, the centrifugal force will hold said osci'll'atable cut off and valve member seated to prevent leakage between the crank case and the compression space of the cylinder.

2. In an engine of the type stated, a crank case, a cylinder mounted thereon to communicate with the interior of the crank case, said cylinder having a piston controlled exhaust port, a 'piston operating in the cylinder to divide the same into a working chamber and a compression space, 'a crank shaft, a connecting rod between the crank shaft and the piston, means for admitting working agent into the crank case, and

means for passing the charge from the compression space into the Working chamber of the cylinder; and an oscillatable cut-off and valve member cooperative with the connecting rod to close oil communication between the compression space and the interior of the crank case during theworkiug stroke of the piston, said cut-off and valve device comprising a pealclike body havin segmental arc flanges, a guide member or receiving said flanges, means securing said guide member in place, said peak-like body having an open head portion, a cylindrical body held in said head portion, said body having a bore for the connecting rod to pass through said peak-like body being located with its head portion projected into said cylinder, and said guide member being lo:

'cated in a position between said segmental arc flanges and the cylinder whereby centrifugal force will act to hold said flanges in contact with said guide member against the pressure in the compression space of the cylinder during rotation of the crank case and cylinder around the crank shaft.

3. In an engine of the type, stated, a crank case, a cylinder mounted thereon to communica'te with the interior of the crank case, said cylinder having a piston controlled exhaust port, a piston operating in the cylinder to divide the same into a working chamber and a compression space, a crank shaft, a connecting rod between the crank shaft and the piston, means for admitting working agent into the crank case, and means for passing the charge from the compression space into the working chamber of the cylinder; and an oscillatable cut-oii and valve member coiiperative with the connecting rod to close oii communication between the compression space and the interior of the crank case during the working stroke of the piston, said cut-ofi and valve device comprising a peak-like body havin segmental arc flanges, a guide member or receiving saidflanges, means securing said .guide member in place, said peak-like body having an open head portion, a cylindrical body held in said head portion, said body having a bore for the connecting rod to pass through, and means for applying balanced ressures to the ends of said cylindrical ody to tend to keep it centered in the head said peak-like body projecting with its head into said cylinder, all being ar-- ranged whereby the act-ion of centrifugal force will hold said segmental arc flanges in contact with said guide member against the pressure in the compression space of the cylinder during operation of the engine.

t. In an engine of the type stated, a crank case, a cylinder mounted thereon to communicate with the inte ior of the crank case,

- said cylinder having a piston controlled exhaust port, a piston operating in the cylinder to divide the same into a working cham her and a compression space, a crank shaft, a connecting rod between the crank shaft and thepiston, means for admitting work ing agent into the crank case, and means for passing the charge from the compression space into the working chamber of the cylinder; and an oscillatable cut-off and Valve member cooperative with the connecting rod to close off communication bet-ween the compression space and the interior of the crank case during the working stroke of the piston, said cut-off and valve device COIIIPI'lSlIlg a peak-like body having segmental arc flanges, a guide member for receiving said flanges, means securing said guide member in place, said peak-like body having an open head portion, 'a cylindrical body held in said head portion, said body having a bore for the connecting rod to pass through, and means for applying balanced pressures to the ends of said cylindrical body to tend to-keep it centered in the head, and means forming a cooperative part of said last named means for preventing leakage of fuel through sa d head portion openings.

5. In an engine of the type stated, a crank case, a set of cylinders mounted on and in communication with the crank case, a piston operating in each cylinder to divide the respective cylinder into a working chamber and into acompression space, a single crank shaft a connecting rod between the crank shaft and each piston, each ,of saidccylinders having piston controlled exhaust ports, and means for passing thecharges from the compression spacesinto the working chambers of the cylinders; an oscillatablc cut-off ,and valve device mounted at the places of connection between each of the respective cylinders and the crank case and cooperative with the respective connecting rods to close off communication between the compression space of the respective cylinder and the crank case during the working strokes of the pistons, means for holding the crank shaft stationary to permit rotation of the crank case and cylinders around the shaft, and means for admitting working agent into the crank case each of said oscillatable cut off and valve devices including a peaked member projected into the respective working cylinder, a member carried by said peaked member through which the respective connecting rod passes, said peak-like body including segmental arc flanges, and a guide and seat member against which said flanges bear, all being arranged whereby when the engine is in operation centrifugal force will act on said peaked members to hold their flanges in contact with their respective guide and seat members against the pressures in the compression spaces of the cylinders.

6. In an engine of the type stated, a crank case, a set of cylinders mounted on and in communication with the crank case, a piston operating in each cylinder to divide the respective cylinder into a working chamber and into a compression space, a single crank shaft, a connecting rod between the crank shaft and each piston, each of said cylinders having piston controlled exhaust ports,

ofl and valve device mounted at the placescf connection between each of the respective cylinders and the crank case and cooperative with the respective connecting rods to close off communication between the compression space of the respective cylinder and the crank case during the working strokes of the pistons, means for holding the crank shaft stationary to permit rotation of the crank case and cylinders around the shaft, and means for admitting working agent into the crank case, together with a muffler mounted on and rotatable with the cylinders, said muflier having communicatlon with the exhaust ports of the cylinders each of said oscillatable cut off-and valve devices including a peaked member projected into the respective working cylinder a member carried by said peaked member through which the respective connecting rod passes, said peak-like body including segmental are flanges, and a guide and seat member against which said flanges bear, all being arrangcwl I whereby when the engine is in operation centrifugal force will act on said peaked member to hold their flanges in contact with their respective guide and seat members against the pressures in the compression spaces of the cylinders.

7. In an engine of the class described, a

crank case comprising an annular body and cap lates fitted thereto, a stationarily held cranli shaft, anti-friction bearings between said crank shaft and said cap plates on which said crank case is adapted to turn, a

set of cylinders mounted on said crank case I cut-01f and valve device and its connecting rod, said cylinders having piston controlled exhaust ports and piston controlled bypasses between the respective compression space and working chamber of the cylinders, a stationary supporting frame in which said crank shaft is mounted, a stub shaft connected with said crank case to aline with the axis of the crank shaft, a stationary frame in which said stub shaft is rotatably mounted, said stub shaft adapted to transmit the power of the engine said oscillatable out off and valve device including segmental arc flanges, and a guide and seat member for the respective valve device cooperating with said flanges whereby the action of centrifugal force when the engine is in operation will seat said flanges in contact with said guide against the pressure in the compression spaces of the cylinders.

8. In an engine of the class described, a crank case, comprising an annular body and cap plates fitted thereto, a stationarily held crank shaft, anti-friction bearings bet-ween said crank shaft and said cap plates on which said crank case is adapted to turn, a set of cylinders mounted on said crank case and radiating from the axial line of said crank shaft, each of said cylinders having a compression space adapted to communicate with the crank case, a piston operating in each cylinder, a connecting rod for each piston to connect it with the crank shaft, an oscillatable cut-off and valve device for each cylin der for controlling the communication between the compression space of the respective cylinder and the crank case, and co operative connections between the respective cut-ofl and valve device and its connecting rod, said cylinders having piston controlled exhaust ports and piston controlled by-passes between the respective compression space and working chamber ofthe cylinders, a stationary supporting frame in which said crank shaft is mounted, a stub shaft connected with said crank case to aline with the axis of the crank shaft, -'a stationary frame in which said stub shaft is rotatably mounted, said gine is in operation will seat said flanges in stub shaft adapted to transmit the power of the engine, a hollow-ring like muffler mounted on said cylinders to turn with the same, a stationarily held magneto, and gear connections between said magneto and said crank case said oscillatable cut off and valve device including segmental arc flanges, and a guide and seat member for the respective valve device cooperating with said flanges whereby the action of centrifugal force when the encontact with said guide against the pressure in the compression spaces of the cylinders.

9. In an engine of the class described, a crank case comprising an annular body and cap plates fitted thereto, a station'arily held crank shaft, anti-friction bearings between said crank shaft and said cap plates on which said crank case is adapted to turn, a set of cylinders mounted on said crank case and radiating from the axial line of said crank shaft, each of said cylinders having a compression space adapted to communicate with the crank case, a piston operating in each cylinder, a connecting rod" for each piston to connect it with the crank shaft, an oscillatable cut-off and valve device for each cylinder for controlling the communication between the compression space of the respective cylin er and the crank case, and cooperative cmnections between the respective cutoff and valve device and its connecting rod, said cylinders having piston controlled exhaust ports and piston controlled by-passes between the respective compression space and working chamber of the cylinders, a stationary supporting frame in which said crank shaft is mounted, a stub shaft connected with said crank case to aline with the axis of the crank shaft, a stationary frame in which said 5 stub shaft is rotatably mounted, said stub shaft adapted to transmit the power of the engine, a hollow-ring like mufiier mounted on said cylinders to turn with the same, each of said cut-off and valve devices including a portion projecting into the respective cylinder, a cylindrical bearing member mounted in said projecting portion and bore to permit passage of the connecting rod, and means for applying a balanced force to each end of said cylindrical member to tend to maintain it centralized said oscillatable cut off and valve device including segmental arc flanges, and a guide and seat member for the respective valve device cooperating with said flanges whereby the action of centrifugal force when the engine is in operation will seat said flanges in contact with said guide against the pressure in the compression spaces of the cylinders.

10. In a rotary cylinder internal combustion engine of the two cycle type, a rotatable crank case, a cylinder mounted on the crank case and in communication therewith at one end, a valve seat member mounted in said 180 crank case adjacent to said cylinder and including a segmental arc guiding surface, an oscillatable peaked valve and cut ofi' member including segmental arc flanges to engage said seat, said member projecting upwardly into said cylinder, a member mounted in the peak end of said valve and cut-ofi .member, and having an aperture for the passage of the connecting rod, a crank shaft, a piston and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, said piston dividing said cylinder into a compression space and a working chamber, and a piston controlled by-pass between the working chamber and compression space, said cylinder having :1

piston controlled exhaust port, all being arranged whereby the action of centrifugal force will tend to keep said oscillatable valve and cut ofi member seated against the pressure in the compression space of the cylinder to prevent leakage between said compression space and the case, said valve having a port adapted to open communication between the crank case and the compression space at times, and means for admitting working agent into the crank case.

CLAYTON E. FREDERICKSON. Witnesses:

ELMER E. NICHOLS,

JOHNSON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents caehgby'addressing the Commissioner of Patent,

Washington, D. G. 

